HENDERSON, Texas — A Henderson family is still grieving the loss of their 18-year-old son Jonathan Holland.
He died in a car wreck along with Henderson ISD student Addison Shepherd, 10, in November 2023 at the intersection of US Highway 79 South and County Road 469. Now, the Holland family is turning their pain into joy for students -- who have the same aspirations as their son.
"Us and the Shepherds tried to turn a tragedy to a triumph," his mother Karen Holland said.
Nathan and Karen Holland started the Fat Boy Foundation, an organization that honors their son Jonathan by giving scholarships to kids attending trade school. The name comes from the lawn business that Jonathan owned, Fat Boy Lawn Care.
Jonathan started the Electrical Lineman Program at Texas State Technical College in Marshall a couple months before he died. Becoming a lineman was something he wanted to pursue for years.
"As far as I can remember being in class with him at school, we’ve always talked about doing it. He would've been really happy to finish it but I’m going to finish it for him," Jackson Pirtle said.
The foundation has provided 19 scholarships to students, including Pirtle, who grew up with Jonathan. Pirtle said the loss of his friend hit him hard, but he’s using it as an opportunity to push forward and live out their dreams of becoming electrical linemen.
"He was a kindhearted kid and a very hard worker, and he was very well respected in this community and this tragic loss has really hit this community hard," Karen Holland said.
Karen Holland said the community support is what helped jump start the foundation. Without that support, she said the family would've never been able to start the foundation.
"The community put on a golf tournament for Jonathan. It raised a lot of money, and then someone else approached me and we did a bass tournament to benefit Addie's Foundation and Jonathan's foundation. It raised $60,000 so both foundations got $30,000 a piece," she said.
She said honoring Jonathan and being a blessing to future generations of young adults is the Hollands' mission in an effort to keep his legacy alive.
"I'm excited to be able to give. Because without the community support, we wouldn't be able to give. But right now, it's still so new and raw. Nathan and I will love to watch these kids grow when they go out through their careers, and be able to see them in a year," she said.
For Pirtle, this scholarship is a reminder that Jonathan is forever proud.
"He will always be there with me and be happy for me," Pirtle said.
For more information about the Fat Boy Foundation, visit the organization's Facebook page.
Addison Shepherd’s family also started a foundation, Addi's Adventures. They are raising money to benefit kids with special needs. For more information or to make a donation, visit the Addi's Adventures website.